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**Question: "What is the concept of 'already but not yet'?"
Answer:**The theological concept of “already but not yet” holds that believers
are actively taking part in the kingdom of God, although the kingdom will not
reach its full expression until sometime in the future. We are “already” in
the kingdom, but we do “not yet” see it in its glory. The “already but not
yet” theology is related to[kingdom theology](http://www.gotquestions.org
/kingdom-theology.html)or[inaugurated eschatology](http://www.gotquestions.org
/inaugurated-eschatology.html).
The “already but not yet” paradigm was developed by Princeton theologian
Gerhardus Vos early in the 20th century. In the 1950s George Eldon Ladd, a
professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, argued that there are two meanings
to the kingdom of God: 1) God’s authority and right to rule and 2) the realm
in which God exercises His authority. The kingdom, then, is described in
Scripture both as a realm presently entered and as one entered in the future.
Ladd concluded that the kingdom of God is both present and future.
The “already but not yet” theology is popular among
the[Charismatics](http://www.gotquestions.org/Charismatic-movement.html), for
whom it provides a theological framework for present-day miracles. “Already
but not yet” is officially embraced by the[Vineyard
Church](http://www.gotquestions.org/Vineyard-Movement.html)and underpins many
of their teachings.
There_is_a sense in which God’s kingdom is already in force.[Hebrews
2:8–9](http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Hebrews%202.8%E2%80%939)says, “At present,
we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a
little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory
and honor because of the suffering of death” (ESV). In this passage, we have a
“now” (we see Jesus crowned with glory), and we have a “not yet” (not
everything has been subjected to Christ). Jesus is the King, but His kingdom
is not yet of this world (see[John
18:36](http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2018.36)).
Also, in[1 John 3:2](http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20John%203.2), we read,
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet
been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.” Again, we have a “now” (we are the children of
God), and we have a “not yet” (our future state). We are children of the King,
but we must wait to see exactly what that entails.
Add to this the facts that[Romans
8:30](http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%208.30)says we are “glorified”
and[Ephesians 2:6](http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ephesians%202.6)says we are
seated with Christ “in the heavenly realms” as if these were completed acts.
We don’t feel very glorified, most of the time, and our surroundings do not
much resemble “heavenly realms.” That’s because the present spiritual reality
does not yet match up with the future, physical reality. One day, the two will
be in sync.
So, there is a biblical basis for the “already but not yet” system of
interpretation. The problem comes when this paradigm is used to justify
the[prosperity gospel](http://www.gotquestions.org/prosperity-gospel.html
),[name-it-claim-it](http://www.gotquestions.org/name-it-claim-
it.html)teachings, and other heresies. The idea behind these teachings is that
Christ’s kingdom is in full operation and that prayer can make it “break
through” into our world. Evangelism is thought to “advance the kingdom.” And
people are told they never need be sick or poor because the riches of the
kingdom are available to them right now.
The Bible never speaks of “advancing the kingdom,” however. The kingdom will
come ([Luke 11:2](http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%2011.2)). We must receive
the kingdom ([Mark 10:15](http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mark%2010.15)). And the
kingdom is currently “not of this world” ([John
18:36](http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2018.36)). Jesus’ parables of the
kingdom picture it as yeast in dough and a tree growing. In other words, the
kingdom is slowly working toward an ultimate fulfillment. It is not
sporadically “breaking through” to bring us comfort in this world.
The King Himself offered the kingdom to the Jews of the first century, but
they rejected it ([Matthew
12:22–28](http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2012.22%E2%80%9328)). One day,
when Jesus returns, He will establish His kingdom on earth and fulfill the
prophecy of[Isaiah 51:3](http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isaiah%2051.3), “The LORD
will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he
will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD.
Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.”
Until then, Jesus is building His church ([Matthew
16:18](http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2016.18)) and using us for the
glory of His name.
**Recommended Resources:**[Understanding End Times Prophecy by Paul Benware](http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1011693&item_no=90796)and[Logos Bible Software](https://www.logos.com/gotquestions).
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1Cary W = "This is the crux of this article; we do not yet see the Kingdom of Heaven. That is because it is an internal, very personal and individual Reality. It is up to each and everyone of us to find the King, break through all barriers and bring forth from our midst the treasures and creations of the Kingdom already here, in Spirit!"

2Shawn Bose = "Geerhardus Vos (1862-1949), a Reformed theologian and one of the most distinguished representatives of the Princeton Theology, he is sometimes called the father of Reformed Biblical Theology.Born in the Netherlands, he came to the United States in 1881 when his father accepted the pastorate of a Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Geerhardus graduated from the Theological School (now Calvin College) in 1883. Vos went to Princeton Seminary to do post-graduate work, then studied for one year at the University of Berlin, followed by two years at the University of Strasburg, where he earned his doctorate.In 1892, Vos accepted appointment as professor of the newly created chair of Biblical Theology at Princeton Seminary, where he taught until he retired in 1932. Among his students were such eminent men as J. Gresham Machen, John Murray, and Cornelius Van Til. During his 39 years at Princeton, Dr. Vos laid the groundwork for his best-known books: Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments and The Pauline Eschatology.source: http://www.theopedia.com/Geerhardus_Vos "